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claas-group.com

claas-group.com

claas-group.com

The Claas brothers

Under the name “Gebrüder Claas” (Claas Brothers), the firm became well known all around the world. So who were the company’s founding fathers, August, Bernhard, Franz and Theo, and what were they like?

Field tests show the difference.

Field test of CLAAS ORIGINAL parts.

Since 2010, working in partnership with the Rendsburg branch of DEULA (German Training Centres for Agricultural Engineering), CLAAS has carried out intensive field tests with CLAAS ORIGINAL parts and non-genuine parts.

The testing process places great emphasis on using the parts in parallel under identical conditions. Only in this way is it possible to compare them and carry out a reliable assessment of their performance.

The documented results show that, apart from lower costs per hectare, CLAAS ORIGINAL parts offer much more:

Maintenance of the machine's full performance

Reduced fuel and maintenance costs

Optimal work quality

Longer service life

Very high campaign performance

The most interesting results of the comparisons are shown below, categorized by machine.

ORIGINAL: 7% breakage

Non-genuine: 60% breakage

The increased breakage of the non-genuine blades necessitates more frequent replacement of the knife blades and leads to more idle time during harvesting. Furthermore, there is increased wear of the double fingers and the knife drive.

CLAAS ORIGINAL – 1,150 ha

Non-genuine – 1,150 ha

Clear signs of wear are visible on the non-genuine part after 1,150 ha. The point is blunt and the cutting edge rounded. The gap in the knife guide is worn. The cutting performance is thereby reduced, and fuel consumption increases.

After 1,150 ha, the non-genuine double fingers have clearly been used for too long. The energy required for the cutting action increases. This reduces the potential machine capacity utilisation by around 10 – 15 %. Thanks to the reduction in the time required to change the parts, a machine with CLAAS ORIGINAL double fingers can be used longer, thus achieving a higher seasonal performance.

ORIGINAL double fingers

Non-genuine double fingers

The absence of a predetermined breaking point means that the knife guide bar can bend on contact with a foreign body, thereby impairing the knife guide function. This can cause costly consequential damage to the knife drive.

Comparison of double fingers.

More information about CLAAS ORIGINAL double fingers is available here.

The columns show the average wear on the chopper knives after 100 and 150 ha. The difference between the CLAAS ORIGINAL and the non-genuine parts in terms of wear can be clearly seen. It is also clear that the wear, and therefore the fuel consumption, too, increases drastically between 100 and 150 ha. Replacing the blades in good time is recommended.

More information about CLAAS ORIGINAL straw chopper knives is available here.

The conveyor chains were installed in parallel in the feeder housing of a LEXION. After 3,000 ha, the radian measures clearly vary. These differences are due to the increased wear on the chain links and the bushes of the non-genuine chain. A complex disassembly procedure is required for their replacement.

Differential pressure in millibars.

Fuel consumption in litres.

Red line: non-genuine filterGreen line: ORIGINAL air filter

Already at the start of the field test, the suction resistance differential pressure of the non-genuine filter was greater than that of the CLAAS ORIGINAL. This means that the engine load with the non-genuine filter is greater, something which is also reflected in the higher fuel consumption. Total fuel consumption with the non-genuine filter is significantly higher and therefore significantly diminishes the saving represented by the lower purchase price.

ORIGINAL maize knives

Non-genuine maize knives

After 580 ha, there are distinct signs of erosion in the coating. To restore the cutting edge to uniform sharpness, the knife has to be ground down to a residual coating thickness of 5 mm. This means that the total coverage* is reduced to about 760 ha.

(*The total coverage is determined by calculation. It is the hectare coverage provided per millimetre of coating starting from a knife in new condition.)

CLAAS ORIGINAL maize knives are distinguished by their high-quality basic material and long-life coating. This significantly reduces the need for re-sharpening and increases the service life. The need for early replacement, along with the time required for it, is thus eliminated.

ORIGINAL grass knives

Non-genuine grass knives

After 332 ha, the coating of the non-genuine knife has been worn down completely. It has to be replaced. The total coverage is therefore only 60% compared with the CLAAS ORIGINAL grass knife.

CLAAS ORIGINAL grass knives are remarkable for their extended period of use. Thanks to this benefit, the higher purchase costs quickly become relative, as the lower fuel consumption and the reduced changeover times make themselves felt.

ORIGINAL shear bar, 360 ha

Non-genuine shear bar, 360 ha

The non-genuine shear bar has significant wear to the edges. Fuel-saving chopping is no longer possible and chop quality is reduced.

CLAAS ORIGINAL shear bars, in combination with the CLAAS ORIGINAL knives, ensure optimum chop quality. In addition, they offer a service life that is up to 100% longer, thereby saving an equal amount of changeover time.

CLAAS tests in the field. Only CLAAS has compared ORIGINAL filters and non-genuine filters in the field during an entire harvest season. In order to ensure that the tests were conducted under real-world conditions, established non-genuine filters were purchased in the market. The filters were then used on identical machines under comparable operating conditions. The interesting results of this field test are presented clearly and comprehensibly.

In cooperation with a contractor in the Eifel region of Germany, a comparison between ORIGINAL and non-genuine filters in two CLAAS JAGUAR forage harvesters was carried out over the course of an entire harvest. The non-genuine filters tested were selected carefully with regard to their comparability.

The field tests were conducted using two identical CLAAS JAGUAR machines in order to ensure comparability between ORIGINAL and non-genuine filters.

To make the field tests as authentic as possible, a professional customer whose forage harvesters each clock up as many as 1000 operating hours during the harvest season was selected.

In order to ensure the comparability of the filters, the non-genuine filters were purchased through established sales channels (e.g. online shops). According to the suppliers, the non-genuine filters tested corresponded to the CLAAS ORIGINAL filters in terms of quality, filtration performance and dimensions.

Oil filter results:

The test showed that this non-genuine filter is able to offer almost comparable performance. Nevertheless, doubts remain as to whether the maintenance interval prescribed by the engine manufacturer can be maintained. Furthermore, it is important to bear in mind that a non-genuine filter is not approved by the engine manufacturer.

Hydraulic oil filter results:

The graphs clearly illustrate the reality: the CLAAS ORIGINAL hydraulic oil filter is able to filter significantly more foreign particles out of the hydraulic oil. It is clear from the measurements that the hydraulic oil in the machine with an ORIGINAL filter is cleaner.

Air filter results:

Fuel pre-filter results:

The non-genuine filter does not reach the scheduled maintenance interval. It would have to be replaced earlier. In addition, considerably greater amounts of water and dirt particles entered the fuel system (e.g. through refuelling in the field) than were filtered out. The overall contamination level actually exceeds the limit set for the sale of diesel fuel in the EN 590 diesel fuel standard (24 mg of dirt per kg of diesel fuel). The CLAAS ORIGINAL filter, by contrast, protects your injection system against contamination by dirt and water all the way to the scheduled maintenance interval.

Fuel filter results:

The inferior filtration performance of the non-genuine filter resulted in more dirt particles entering the fuel system. The contamination level actually exceeds the limit set for the sale of diesel fuel in the EN 590 diesel fuel standard (24 mg of dirt per kg of diesel fuel). It seems likely that the dirt content that was initially retained was suddenly released when the filter became oversaturated. In view of the degree of contamination, it would have been necessary to change the filter before the replacement interval.

CLAAS ORIGINAL parts for balers and forage harvesting machines compared.

The material quality of the non-genuine bolt is inferior. Clear shrinkage is visible in the contact area with the knife blade. As the wear progresses, the risk of the bolt failing increases.

The illustrations show the wear limit at which it is advisable to change to a new part. Only parts which function optimally will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your CLAAS machine. Do not use parts beyond the wear limit and ensure that they are changed in time.

Non-genuine baler knife 2

Result after 2,700 bales:

CLAAS ORIGINAL baler knives in comparison with two different non-genuine knives. After 2,700 bales, the lower degree of wear on the CLAAS ORIGINAL knives is clearly recognisable. Owing to the better material quality and the sophisticated manufacturing process, the chop quality is maintained longer, significantly reducing the need for sharpening. This means more bales per knife.

We use cookies (ours and those of third-party providers, e.g. Google Analytics) to simplify the use of our web pages and adjust the content more closely to your interests. Simply continuing to use our web pages sets only those cookies that are required for technical reasons; acceptance means that all cookies (including marketing cookies) will be set. Your consent is voluntary, and can be withdrawn at any time with future effect.